Fusion expert: ITER remains the "snowplow" that paves the way
The ITER nuclear fusion research project has a new timetable. However, it remains a pioneer for the technology, says Prof. Dr. Hartmut Zohm.
Prof. Dr. Hartmut Zohm in his latest YouTube video.
(Image: Screenshot aus dem Youtube-Channel "Urknall, Weltallt und das Leben")
The role of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) research project for nuclear fusion has not changed significantly even after the new schedule, according to one of the experts involved. "ITER is still the 'snowplow' that paves the way for everyone else to drive on with better traction," Prof. Dr. Hartmut Zohm told heise online. He heads the Tokamak Scenario Development department at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Garching.
After a number of problems arose in the project recently, ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi presented a new timetable for the project last week. Now the reactor will no longer be filled with a "symbolic plasma" of ionized hydrogen, as previously planned. Originally, the experimental reactor was to be filled with deuterium and tritium for the first time in 2035; this operating phase is now scheduled for 2039. Full magnetic energy is to be reached three years earlier. According to ITER, this would result in additional costs of 5 billion euros.
"Entirely new strategy"
Even according to this new plan, the challenges remain largely the same, "and also the way in which we want to tackle them", said Zohm. The role of ITER through the output in all phases of the project, i.e. the construction, assembly and commissioning, as well as the subsequent demonstration of the burning plasma, remains unchanged by the new schedule. This is not simply a ten-year postponement, but an entirely new strategy. It would also provide valuable insights before commissioning.
Videos by heise
Zohm mentioned the tungsten wall, one of the changes that had been made to the ITER tokamak recently. In Garching, experience had already been gained with the material on the "ASDEX Upgrade" tokamak since 1996. ITER had previously relied on three materials, in addition to tungsten on carbon in the divertor and beryllium in the main chamber, now ITER is following the example from Garching with its wall fully lined with tungsten.
Sluggish efforts
Zohm was a member of an international panel of experts that presented a memorandum on the development of nuclear fusion in 2023 on behalf of Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP). It assumed that a demonstration power plant would be feasible by 2045. The minister had questioned the team after "the world's first proof of scientific feasibility in laser-driven inertial confinement fusion" had been provided in December 2022.
Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt
Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externes YouTube-Video (Google Ireland Limited) geladen.
Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (Google Ireland Limited) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
Zohm now told heise online that "efforts in inertial confinement fusion have not yet been significantly stepped up, but work is underway in Germany to change this". However, he believes that it will not be possible to catch up with magnetic fusion technology any time soon.
Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt
Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier eine externe Umfrage (Opinary GmbH) geladen.
Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (Opinary GmbH) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
The IPP in Garching worked on the initial plans for ITER in 1988. Construction work on the research reactor at the Cadarache site in southern France began in 2010, and assembly of ITER began in 2020. Delays have been caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the - still ongoing - repairs to important components.
(anw)
